Just two days after the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was in Tirana full of praise for Albania's progress on its European path, in solidarity with the former commanders "Kosovo Liberation Army" (KLA), against whom the process is being conducted before the Special International by the court in The Hague, on Friday, October 17, a large all-Albanian protest was scheduled in Tirana.
This gathering is organized by the Association of War Veterans Ovk, writes KoSSev.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote on the X social network: "It is with pleasure and honor that I announce this call. Freedom has a name. From Kosovo, from North Macedonia, Albania, the diaspora and every corner of the Albanian land — thousands of hearts will unite this Friday, October 17, at 5:00 p.m., to unanimously demand Justice for the liberators."
He emphasized that he supports the protest "wholeheartedly", but that he will not participate as a speaker because "any politicization, whether intentional or not, could harm its purpose and popularity".
Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselji, Jakup Krasnići and Redžep Seljimi were accused of torturing, detaining and killing political opponents - about a hundred of them.
Self-determination responded to Rama's initiative
The Self-Determination Movement (LVV) reacted strongly to Rama's initiative, recalling that ten years ago he was the one who lobbied for the establishment of the Special Court in The Hague.
"Before protesting, these actors and politicians should show at least a minimum of remorse for their wrong attitudes in the past. A clear example is the current prime minister of Albania, Edi Rama, who even came urgently by helicopter to Pristina to convince foreigners to vote for the establishment of this court," the party said in a statement on Facebook.
Self-determination emphasized that the KLA war was "just and necessary", that it "was not a criminal organization" and that Serbia should be held accountable for war crimes.
Nevertheless, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani supported the protest.
Kurti to refrain from "politicization"
The Association of KLA War Veterans, which organizes the rally, criticized Self-Determination for "attempting to politicize the protest."
"This protest is not partisan - it is the voice of the Albanian people, the voice of veterans, the families of fallen fighters and all those who disagree with the injustice done to the KLA leaders in The Hague. There is no political force that can stop or appropriate this voice," the Association announced on Facebook.
The veterans thanked Rama for his "clear support", stressing that the KLA "remains the honor of the nation and there is no court that can tarnish it".
More than 60 buses leave Kosovo for Tirana every month, for which they received support from the institutions of Albania.
"We were also supported by 'Red and Black' fans from Albania. From Kosovo alone, we have confirmed 60 buses from three of our associations - the disabled, families of fallen fighters and veterans - participating in the organization. We thank the mayors of the municipalities who provided us with transportation, because we did not have our own funds," said Hisini Gucati, president of the KLA War Veterans Organization.
The Albanian Parliament rejected the resolution on "Serbia's genocide of Albanians in Kosovo"
On Thursday, the Parliament of Albania rejected the request of the opposition Democratic Party (DP) to adopt a resolution condemning the "genocide of Serbia against Albanians in Kosovo". The vote on this proposal was not published in detail, but the proposal was rejected, Koha writes.
The President of the DP Salji Berisha criticized the outcome of the vote, stating that Albania "should have adopted the resolution from Pristina immediately".
"During 1998-1999, barbaric Serbian forces committed massacres against the unprotected population. To deny this is to be without human, social and national consciousness," said Berisha.
He accused the ruling Socialist Party of "trampling on the victims of genocide" and that Prime Minister Edi Rama is "Vučić's servant".
Hague Albanian detainees
Since November 2020, Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselji, Jakup Krasnići and Redžep Seljimi have been in custody in The Hague, where they are being tried before the Specialized Chambers for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The indictment charges them with the murders of around 100 people. All four pleaded not guilty.
Many Albanians believe that the court is biased because it prosecutes only former members of the KLA, while the crimes of Serbian forces allegedly go unpunished.
The protest in Tirana will follow earlier rallies in Pristina and The Hague.
Due to the protests in Tirana, the Albanian authorities abolished tolls from the highways.
Source: KoSSev/Koha
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